Collapsible crate



J. J. JOHNS.

'COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1915.

1,1 94,634. Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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JOHN J. J OHNS, OF PONGHATOULA, LOUISIANA.

ooLLAPsmLn CRATE.

Application filed July 21, 1915.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoiiN J. JoHNs, a subject of the Sultan of Turkey, residing at Ponchatoula, in the parish of Tangipahoa and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in C01- lapsible Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved collapsible crate and more particularly to a crate which is primarily designed for use in containing and shipping strawberries, the invention having for its primary object to provide a crate for this purpose which will afford proper protection for the strawberrycontainers in shipment, will be very light in welght so that the crate can be easily handled, and is exceedingly simple in con-" struction and capable of manufacture at comparatively small cost.

The invention has for an additional object to provide a collapsible crate including a plurality of side and end slats alternately arranged, a detachable bottom section, and means for holding the slats in assembled relation and removably securing the bottom section in place.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accon'ipanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crate constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one corner of the crate; Fig. a is an edge view showing the sides and ends of the crate folded; and Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates the side bars or slats of the crate, any desired number of which may be employed in accordance with the required depth or capacity of the crate. Upon the inner face of the uppermost side slat 5, a narrow longitudinally extending cleat 6 is secured. The ends of the crate also consist of a series of bars or slats 7 The lowermost side and end slats are relatively narrow.

WVhen the crate is assembled, the slats 5 and 7 are alternately arranged, the end slats extending between the spaced side slats Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au is, rare.

Serial No. 41,131.

5. The slats 5 and 7 are provided with openings 8 in their ends which are adapted to be arranged in registering relation to receive the connecting rods or pintles 9. The opposite extremities of the rods 9 are bent upon themselves and angularly disposed, as indicated at 10.

The bottom of the crate consists of a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending slats 11 which are permanently connected together at their ends by the bars or cleats 12. The slats 11 are of such length that the bars 12- will be disposed against the outer faces of the lowermost end slats 7 when the bottom is in place, and the lower angular ends of the rods 9 are extended over the outer longitudinal slats 11 by turning said rods, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawmg.

13 designates the removable top for the crate which consists of a plurality of intersectmg slats which are nailed or otherwise permanently secured together. The outer longitudinal slats of this top are adapted to be engaged beneath the ribs 6 on the upper longitudinal side slats 5 of the crate. This removable top is of such length that the longitudinal slats thereof will be disposed between the uppermost end bars or slats 7 of the crate so that the removable top will rest upon the containers, indicated at 14, in which the strawberries or other commodity are packed.

In the use of my improved crate, it will be understood that the side and end slats of the crate are extended to positions at right angles to each other, and the bottom section 11 of the crate then secured in place in the manner above stated. After the strawberry containers have been packed within the crate, the removable top 13 is then slid longitudinally under the ribs or cleats (S from one end of the crate and the c'ate is ready for shipment. In order to collapse the crate, it is only necessary to turn the rods 9 so that their lower angular ends will be disengaged from the bottom sec tion of the crate. The side and end slats can then be lifted and folded upon each other in the manner shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of use and several advantages of the invention will be clearly understood. The slats or bars constituting the ends and sides of the crate are very light in weight so that the structure, when in use, can be easily and quickly moved from place to place. At the same time, these bars afford ample protection for the boxes or containers in which the strawberries are shipped and effectually prevent bruising of the fruit in the rough handling of the crate. When the crate is collapsed, it will be manifest that a large number of the crates can be very compactly assembled so that they will occupy but small space in shipment. In order to admit of the easy and quick unpacking of the crate and the removal of the fruit boxes, the rods 9 may be turned so as to release the bottom section of the crate when the sides and ends thereof, which are connected by said rods are lifted, thus leaving the tiers of fruit boxes exposed.

It is, of course, apparent that the crate can be constructed in various sizes and the body slats or bars may be made of any desired width or thickness in accordance with the particular purposes for which the crate is to be used.

The device is also susceptible of a great many other modifications in the form, proportion and arrangement of the several parts and it will, therefore, be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate modifications as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is In a collapsible crate, side and end slats alternately arranged and having their ends overlapping, vertical pivot rods disposed through the intersecting ends of the slats and having their opposite end portions laterally bent, a longitudinal cleat secured in the inner face of each of the uppermost side slats, a removable top adapted to be slidably engaged beneath said cleats, and a detachable bottom section having longitudinal slats and superposed end bars connecting the same, said end bars being adapted for en gagement upon the outer faces of the lower most end slats of the crate when the bottom is in place, the lower angular ends of the pivot rods being adapted for engagement with said bottom section when the rods are turned in one direction to retain said section in assembled position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN J. JOHNS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

